Question 1

The novel Frankenstein was strongly influenced by all the following EXCEPT the:

Accepted Answer

While the novel does explore themes of mortality and the creation of life, there is no indication that the author's own preparation for death influenced the story. The other options, galvanic experiments, corpse stealing, and the Prometheus myth, all had a direct influence on the creation of the novel.

Question 2

Darwin's shipboard experiments demonstrated thanatomimesis, which occurs when a:

Accepted Answer

Thanatomimesis refers to an animal pretending to be dead in order to evade predators or threats. Darwin observed this behavior in insects on his shipboard experiments. The other options in the question involve different phenomena such as resuscitation (A), muscle contractions after death (C), and predation (D).

Question 3

The position that death is not a sudden, massive event, but rather a complex process that takes place over time is promoted by:

Accepted Answer

Kenneth Iserson is a medical doctor and author who has written extensively on the topic of death and dying. In his book "Death to Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies?" he discusses the idea that death is not a sudden event, but rather a process that takes place over time. He explains how different organs and systems of the body cease functioning at different rates, leading to a gradual shutdown of the body that can take hours, days, or even weeks.

Question 4

"What then is death? It's not much of anything-simply one more event in a sequence that has no intrinsic meaning or value." This view can be found in:

Accepted Answer

This view is consistent with the philosophy of Epicureanism, which is espoused in On the Nature of Things by Lucretius. Epicureans believed that death is not something to be feared, as it is simply the end of consciousness and therefore has no bearing on one's existence or well-being.

Question 5

The "deathification of sex" and the "sexualization of death" are associated with the teaching of:

Accepted Answer

The phrase "deathification of sex" and "sexualization of death" were coined by theologian James B. Nelson in his book "Body Theology" which explores the relationship between sexuality and spirituality in Christianity. He argues that Christianity has historically viewed sex as sinful and associated it with death, while also sexualizing death through the concept of eternal punishment in Hell. These ideas are present in the book of James and other passages in the New Testament.

Question 6

A New Age view of death is most similar to the views of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A New Age view of death is...

Question 7

The perspective that death is subject to question, challenge, and revision like any other concept refers to:

Accepted Answer

The perspective that views death as subject to question, challenge, and revision, like any other concept, aligns with the idea of symbolic construction. This viewpoint suggests that our understanding of death is constructed through social, cultural, and individual symbols and narratives, rather than being a fixed, universal concept.

Question 8

Mark Twain's account of the municipal "dead house" in Munich highlighted the practice of:

Accepted Answer

Mark Twain's account describes the use of a wire connected to each corpse and attached to a bell, which would ring if any movement occurred. This was done in case any of the supposed dead bodies turned out to be alive.

Question 9

Jack Kevorkian, M.D. believed that this bodily function was the most reliable way to determine if a person is dead:

Accepted Answer

Jack Kevorkian, M.D. believed that the condition of the eye, specifically the pupils, was the most reliable way to determine if a person is dead. If the pupils are fixed and dilated, it indicates the brain is no longer functioning and the person is dead.

Question 10

For more than 50 years, unresponsive patients considered as "beyond coma" have been known as having the following condition:

Accepted Answer

Patients considered "beyond coma" for more than 50 years have been referred to as having "respirator brain," a term that reflects the severe brain damage rendering them unresponsive and dependent on mechanical ventilation.

Question 11

Which of the following Harvard criteria would NOT have been familiar to physicians who practiced a century ago?

Accepted Answer

The concept of "No circulation to or within the brain" as a criterion for death, particularly in the context of brain death, would not have been familiar to physicians a century ago. This is because the understanding and technology to assess brain circulation and function in such detail were not available until the latter half of the 20th century. The other options (unresponsiveness, lack of reflexes, and absence of movement and breathing) could be observed without advanced technology.

Question 12

A transient vegetative state is defined by:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A transient vegetative state is defined by:
...

Question 13

The condition known to have been caused by brain damage that might be moderated or reversed is referred to as what type of vegetative state?

Accepted Answer

Persistent vegetative state is a condition caused by brain damage where the patient loses cognitive function but may retain some autonomic functions. It is known that some cases might be moderated or reversed, unlike other types of vegetative states.

Question 14

In 2008, the President's Council on Bioethics issued a report that examined various perspectives on what is considered to be the most significant development pertaining to death up to this point in time. This phenomenon is known as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2008, the President's Council on Bioethics...

Question 15

Which interpretation of death was associated with Mesopotamians and the ancient Greeks thousands of years ago?

Accepted Answer

The interpretation of death as an enfeebled form of life was associated with both the Mesopotamians and the ancient Greeks. The Mesopotamians believed in an afterlife in which the dead continued to live a diminished version of their former life, while the Greeks thought that the dead existed as shades in the Underworld, a shadowy and joyless version of the world above. Both views suggest that death represents a kind of decay or weakness compared to life.

Question 16

This interpretation of death was exemplified among ancient Egyptians and modern African groups:

Accepted Answer

Ancient Egyptians and modern African groups believed in the concept of continuation after death. They believed that the soul can live on in the afterlife and that death is not the end of life, but rather a transition into a new state of being. This belief is reflected in their practices of mummification and burial with grave goods to ensure a comfortable afterlife.

Question 17

Evolutionary biology and philosophy stimulated the view of death as a time of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evolutionary biology and philosophy stimulated the view...

Question 18

Which view of death emphasizes the three phases of suspension, judgment, and disposition?

Accepted Answer

The view of death that emphasizes the three phases of suspension, judgment, and disposition is associated with the concept of waiting. This perspective often involves a belief in an interim period following death where the soul waits for a final judgment or disposition.

Question 19

Reincarnation, transmigration and rebirth as well as the symbolic Phoenix represent this interpretation of the death state:

Accepted Answer

These concepts all symbolize the idea of cycling and recycling, where death is followed by a form of rebirth or renewal, rather than an end.

Question 20

The wheel is a core symbol of life and death for those who practice:

Accepted Answer

The wheel symbolizes the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth known as samsara in Buddhism. It represents the constant movement and change of life and the idea of karma, where one's actions in life will determine their future rebirths.

Quiz 2: What Is Death What Does Death Mean